Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-30
TEACHERS CONVENTION.
All Elaborate Programme Carried Out
at the State Teachers C0nTen-
ton in Dallas.
DR.. Leslie Wnggener of the State University
Reviews tho History of the Univer-
sity-Other Addresses.
Special to the Gazette.

bALLASy LEN June Zi.-1Qe SLSl6
Teachers convention assembled this
morning at tie opera house. After the
formal opening exercises OF prayer and
music, the chairman appointed & commit
tee on reorganization, consisting OF Pro-
lessor Carlisle, Pennybecker and Oaks,
Nd the convention took up the regular
programme.
1t was announced by g representative
OF the Cult, Colorado and Santa Fe Rail
way that the excursion tickets on that
road would be extended until July l.
Professor W. S, Sutton CT Houston, by
appointment, read q memorial paper on
Professor Justin L. Dow, late superin-
tendtnt of public schools at Houston, in
whicd ne paid touching and eloquent
tribute 70 the distinguished educator.
Professor Dow was former president
of the association, AID was highly es-
teemed iOr his scholarly attatnments and
social and moral character. The paper
was referred TO the committee on publ
cation.
Professor Alex. Hogg of Fort Worth
here moved that the address of
Mr.. Yancy Lewis on last evening, on the
subject of Gladstone, be incorporated in
the proceedings Of the convention, and
that a bound copy of the same be
forwarded to Mr.. Gladstone with the
compliments an endorsement OF the
convention.
Or. Leslie Waggener Of Austin, chair
man OF the faculty Of the state
University, was introduced, and the
rule of the convention WIS suspended
which limits the time Of speakers
to twenty-five minutes, that the learned
doctor might speak for an hour. DR..
Waggener traced the history Of the uni
veTsity from its earliest inception. He
quoted from the first message of Presi-
dent Lamar TO the Congress of the Texas
republic, suggesting the apportionment
of large body Of land for the ultimate
establishment Of q great university. He
attributed the origin Of our pres
eEt school system to President Lamar in
1893, He graphically compared the es
adjustment of the Texas University of
Texas to the establishment of the
university of Leyden, Holland, when that
people after q holocaust of fire, war aud
famine, erected q monument in the shape
Of great school to William, the Silent,
in Cummemoration of his distinguished
qualities and his wonderful protection of
his people. The speaker said that the
action OF Texas was more TO be wondered
at than that of the citizens OF Leyden,
for Holland, even in the sixteenth
century was an old country, while
Texas was new country, Just
born in the bloody cradle of the Mexican
war. Referring to what constitutes q
university Or. Waggener deplored the
promiscuOus application Of the term to
schools Of inferior grade, which had
caused a good educational term to fall !
into unfortunate confusion. He denied |
that university is a place wholly for |
original research. II that were its true |
function, then the laboratory of Thomas
II Edison, the Bessemer Steel Works !
and the Western Union Teie- !
graph Company would be ideal
universities. The said university may !
be known by the character Of its iustruc- |
ton and graduates. Its object is to !
teach it's students to make original inves-
legations, necessarily to make original in
vestigations itself. It's place not merely
for the collection Of laboratories and IL }
brarieS, but place for teaching, train
ing and Cultivating the mind to the de-
Of the highest manhood. It
differs from other schools only in the ex-
tent Of it's facilities, where, by reason of
numerous teachers, each one
may attain to the highest
possible skill in his particular line. He
referred to the fact that Harvard has
more than 200 teachers and 220 courses in
twenty-five groups. DR.. Waggener
impressed that education is not
The mere requirement of knowledge; that
education involves knowledge, but the
mere possession OF knowledge does not
involve education. That education is the
development OF the logical, ethical and
moral attributes. Education is never
completed. 1t is a development, not
IN accomplishment. The three things
most necessary to q correct education
Ire: l. The habit of thinking. This is
,est acquired by the ordinary course of
study now in use, course which has ;
)een tried through centuries. 2. The
student must acquaInt himself with polite
literature that he may obtain culture. g.
1e must have an honest purpose to learn |
he truth and q sincere desire for right d,
or rights sake. He must realize that
Duty is the sublimest word in the
augusge. He referred TO julius Cesar :
5 a type of man who sacrifices per-
onal promotion TO sense of duty; and G
,obert E. Lee as the most distinguished t
xample in all history Of consecrated de- c
otion TO duty. DR.. Waggener concluded +
nth grand description of the beauties
intellectual life, and the great good, 1
Ccially aud morally, to result from edu-
alton. His address was profoundly ,
aud delightfully."- practical.
After g short recess the secretary read .
Re enrolment of members. Professor
z. L. Bringhurst of the Agricultural and S
LeChsniCel college, and DR.. j. II. Luther 7
Baylor Female college, emphatically +,
nj eloquently Endorsed DR.. Waggener's r
tdress. o
r Luther spoke at some length, paid L
lst tribute to the faculty of the university
I'd called upon the teachers to properly
cepsre their students in the high school !"
n the university. He said that at pres =.
it the state alone is capable of furnish =
e the facilities necessary to the educa- II
on of the youth of the land. Mr.. Pan Il
~ introduced resolution conveying TO j.
e next legislature the disapproval of s. 3,
e convention of the plan of hav- fe
g county superintendent of ST
iucation. The convention promptly "a
bled his resolution, showing itself rather "
favor Of county superintendent.
solution looking to the establishment s,
uniform system of text books shared
e same fate. DR.. McCune, business re
,ent of the Farmers Alliance, was in m
ted TO address the body, and formally II
omitted a proposition pledging the Al =,
Lnce to publish such text books as the br
ION or,A 80 ~, sap,